Ready to kick your daily exercise routine up a notch, but not sure you’re willing to go to the next level? If you’ve got a conventional bike commute, you’re already ahead of the pack. According to a recent study, commuting by bike to work is the most effective form of physical activity for weight loss, because you can burn the most calories in the shortest amount of time.
Biking to work is one of the best ways to boost your health. Not only will you get good cardiovascular exercise and help the environment, but you’ll also save time and money. But with a little planning, you can make biking to and from work even more beneficial to your health.
If you’re already a biking commuter and wondering if you’re getting enough exercise, or if you aren’t a biking commuter and are trying to figure out how to make biking to work a part of your life, here are some tips to help.
Cycling to work: a major new study suggests health benefits are staggering
For years, the idea of withstanding the daily commute by bicycle was considered a farfetched fantasy for most people. But in recent years, cycling has gained popularity in urban communities as a fun, environmentally-friendly, and (best of all) cheap way to get to and from work. It’s not just hipsters anymore: everyone from business executives to housewives is hopping on a bicycle and pedaling to work.
A new study offers the strongest evidence yet that, when it comes to cardiovascular health, the more you pedal the better: Researchers from the University of Glasgow found that cycling to work is roughly equivalent to adding an extra hour of moderate exercise each week.
The researchers tracked more than 5,000 adults who commuted by bike for two years, matching them against a control group of non-cyclists. After adjusting for other exercise and risk factors, the cyclists had a 42 percent lower risk of developing heart disease or stroke (a 37 percent lower risk if they were regular cyclists, and a 54 percent lower risk if they cycled the full distance).
Bike commuting as exercise vs. diet
You probably have heard that you can lose weight by biking to work. However, you may be surprised to know that you can actually burn more calories by not biking to work if you follow a diet plan. If you are dieting to lose weight, you should definitely focus on diet, rather than exercise.
This is because the amount of calories you burn in a day from exercise is minuscule compared to the amount of calories you burn from eating. If you want to lose weight by bike commuting, the best strategy is to burn as many calories as possible by eating less.
It’s a common mistake for people to think that biking to work is a great way to lose weight. While biking to work is a great way to improve your endurance, burn calories, and tone your muscles, biking to work will not necessarily help you lose weight. In order to lose weight, you need to reduce your calorie intake (or increase output with exercise), and biking to work is just one of many activities that can help you do so.
Target heart rate for bike commuting
Working out is a great way to keep fit, and one of the most convenient ways to do it is to commute by bike. Riding is a good way to get aerobic exercise, which will keep your heart and lungs in good shape and help you shed excess pounds. However, if you aren’t careful, biking can also be dangerous. Past research has linked biking to reduced abdominal fat and better control of your blood sugar and blood pressure.
Biking to work is an excellent way to ease into a regular fitness habit, since it burns calories without the impact of running or jogging. It’s also a great way to fight traffic, and it’s great for your wallet, since gas prices are always on the rise. But is there a rate at which you should be aiming your pedaling to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your commute? Perhaps surprisingly, the answer is no.
Benefits of Commuter Bikes for Women
Commuter bikes are popular not just with men. More and more women are using these bike. The benefits of using commuter bikes for women are many. These bikes are often very light and easy to handle. If you want to avoid the hassle of traffic during peak hours, a commuter bike will prove to be your best companion.
You will be able to avoid the stress of traffic as you enjoy the exercise The commuter bike is very spacious. This means there is enough space to carry a basket, pannier, helmet, bag and other essentials.
The Best Bikes for Beginning Commuters, According to Cycling Experts
Cycling is a great way to get around, spend time with friends, and enjoy the fresh air. It’s also a great workout. But if you don’t have the right bike, it can also be a pretty miserable experience. The kind of bike you choose can make a big difference: if it’s uncomfortable and hard to ride, you may end up avoiding your bike and not using it for transportation.
Bikes aren’t just for recreation—they’re also a quick and easy way to get from one place to another. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best beginner bikes for commuters.
We considered bikes to be “beginner” if they had the following features: a lightweight and easy-to-control frame, a wide range of gears in the front and back, and a good set of brakes. We also wanted a bike that was easy to store and maintain, and something that would be comfortable for the long rides that commutes often require.
The best bikes for beginning commuters are surprisingly simple. With nothing more than a pedal-assist motor, a brake, and a seat, you can easily get to work. Most of the time, you don’t even need a helmet. What you need is an affordable bike, and one that fits your body.
That’s where we come in. Below are the top five bikes, as selected by bike-enthusiast experts, to help you get from home to work and back again with ease and with little effort.
Last Words
The idea of commuting by bicycle might seem like a scary proposition to some, but there are a number of benefits to the practice. Commuters who ride to work can save money on gas and parking, while also doing something good for their bodies and the environment. If you’re worried about safety, remember that most car accidents happen close to home—and the majority of bike accidents occur due to unsafe behaviors by the cyclist.
